Magnum Gone To Hell

The old system was so familiar that I don't doubt many of us could've shown up with no training and done everything but controls.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

I agree that the gates didn't seem to be hurting operations too much, but the new signaling system blows. It seemed very cluste$%^&ish to me compared to the beauty and simplicity of the knocks. It's stupid for the person in controls to have to speak into that mic at all. You used to have to like bend over and step on a pedal to even do that! :) Also, is it necessary for the control op to say "ready ready" every time? If everyone's ready, the train should just be able to be sent without even saying that. I think they would have been better off putting the controls for the gates and the co-dispatch over on the unload side (right on one of the pillars or something) and keeping 3 people on that side, leaving the spiel person over there as always and still just use the knocks. Maybe they'll modify the procedure a bit next year or even this year because right now it looks more dangerous and much more of a pain than the old system.

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

I'm sure I could have run controls. :) I am sure I could have ran through the park and found a crew to run the ride.

Hey Joe, I asked about the yellow line announcement, and the reason they still warn people of the yellow line is they don't want to see anyone get stuck/hurt from the gates closing.

Dave is right, the gates don't effect the ride ops but the new system they have for dispatching the train has been changed.

I plan to be there Friday night, its either going to be a Magnum Marathon night or a Twister Marathon night.

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Danny J
WT: 11

Nobody should be too worried about magnum. Its a new year, and things have changed. That very night, we sat around for an hour or so and just brainstormed on how to do things better, get trains out faster, and just get things running more smooth. The trains getting fixed will obviously be a big help in getting the capacity up, and trust me in saying is was just as much of a pain in our butt as it was to the guests. I'm willing to say the air gates won't cause too much trouble. The only thing that really dissapointed me is the fact that some guests think its funny to work against us. I had seatbelts getting tied together in knots as some prank by a park guest. This sort of thing really saddens me, and brings my overall attitude down as a ride op. Then again, there are many people (i'm sure who are on this forum) that help us out alot. Fastening unmanned seatbelts and lowering lap bars for us, and that sort of thing. Thanks for the help. Also i'm not sure if the person is on this forum, but one guy on the last train of the day told us we were doing a good job. That makes all the difference. Thanks guy, if your reading this.

Dan, that makes sense then. I have a feeling more people will be hurt by the gates then ever have been hurt by not having them. Also people liked to play with the gates which I don't understand. They should go home and play with the their own gates if that's their sorta fetish ;)

AS Patrick mentioned, It makes it easier on them and it's really not that hard for us to fasten seatbelts and pull down bars if the seats are empty next to us. Everyone here should do it, which I'm sure most do. Bending over each time to find and fasten and empty seat belts looks like a pain and it's actually easier to do it when you are sitting down. :)

Still I can only get one extra seatbelt and lapbar down in those trains. I have mastered getting the belts and bars down for 3 seats on Millennium Force though :oP.

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My CP and coaster pics

Maggie will be just fine. Everything isn't going to be perfect on the first day. It takes a few days and things will go more smoothly. CP will not let anything happen to the best steel coaster in the world!

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CPguy21
MF count:24
Magnum count:52
WT count:0
Coaster on island in 2003?

Patrick, I don't think any of the negativity here is directed toward the crew! :) Heck, I've been there - I know what it's like (wish I was there now to be honest! :)) What happened Sunday was the fault of maintenance, not the crew. I'm sure it was a pain for the crew to deal with though. The times I was up on platform, you guys had the train ready to go before "ready". Don't let the maintenance problems get you down! :)

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

Well, there was ONE person on the crew I was ready to strangle after my second ride, but lucky for him I was more interested in seeing how things went with Heather. Of course the guy in question was working that side of the train, maybe he caused that problem 'cause he just doesn't know his own strength..........

(Check PTC lap bars by pushing LIGHTLY. Check Arrow lap bars by PULLING HARD. NEVER PUSH HARD ON ANYTHING!)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I didn't mean any disrespect towards the crew at all I know that its not their fault.

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Danny J
WT: 11